Suzette Cook
Dixie County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies are investigating the discovery of human remains made on Wednesday in Old Town.
According to police reports, at about 5 p.m. on Jan. 26 deputies responded to the area of NE 811th Street near Gornto Springs in Old Town “for a report of human remains found in a wooded area.”
Deputies confirmed that the remains were human and contacted the DCSO Criminal Investigations Team, the report states.
The DCSO is now conducting an investigation with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the medical examiner’s office.
As of Monday morning, neither the DCSO or FDLE had released further information on the case, which is considered an ongoing investigation.
“Additional details related to this case will be released as they become available,” the DCSO stated in response to an inquiry from Mainstreet Daily News.
Authorities are asking the public to refer any information about the case to Lt. Tony Lopresto at (352) 498-1245.
Concerned residents are commenting on the news posted by the DCSO on Facebook that the missing remains might be those of Benny Battle Jr., who was last seen on Dec. 10, 2019, the night before he was to report for a court date regarding alleged drug and petty theft charges.
According to a “Where Are They Now?” missing persons podcast, Battle also missed an appointment on Dec. 19 to receive his disability payment. That’s when his family started to realize he might be in danger.
The family set up a Facebook page to try to keep information flowing about the case.
Benny’s mother Elizabeth Battle commented on the DCSO’s notice of the remains discovery: “Could this be Benny J. BATTLE JR. Who has been missing since December 10th, 2019?”